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"3 Wood" - this is the name of a new product made from waste and residual wood that is said to be as strong as 100-year-old tropical timber. © Flinders University

Modified waste timber replaces tropical timber

Article by Michael Reitberger, translated by Susanne Höfler | 20.09.2016 - 14:45
14742891963693.jpg

"3 Wood" - this is the name of a new product made from waste and residual wood that is said to be as strong as 100-year-old tropical timber. © Flinders University

A team of Australian researchers from the Flinders University succeeded in chemically modifying pine or eucalyptus wood fibers to create products that have a durability and resistance similar to naturally grown tropical wood.

Water-based glue, wood fibers, pressure and heat

For the process, material can be used that would usually just be burned like for instance cheap waste wood from the sawmill industry or unusable grinding waste from the paper industry. A special water-based glue that is free of formaldehyde compounds the wood fibers to pulp that is subsequently pressed into form under high pressure and temperatures. "3Wood" - this is the name for the new product - is said to have strength properties similar to 100-year-old tropical timber. The invention is expected to provide an alternative to tropical deforestation, and at the same time, it is a great way to put residual and waste wood to a better use.